Clutch plate



P' w. v. THELANDER Re. 22,635-

' CLUTCH PLATE Original Filed Nov. 25 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17,1945. w. v. THE LANDER Re. 22,

CLUTCH PLATE Origi nal Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ReiasuedApr. 17, 1945 CLUTCH PLATE W. Vincent Thelander, Auburn, Ind.

Original No. 2,337,135, datc'd Deceniber 21, 1943, Serial No. 400,310,June 28, 1941, which is a division of Serial No. 366,960, November 251940, now Patent No. 2

$16,820, dated April 20,

1943. Application for reissue December-1, 1944,

Serial No. 566,232

20 Claims.

This invention relates to clutches generally and is more particularlyconcerned with improvements i automotive type friction clutches, thisapplication being a division of my copending application, Serial No.366,960, filed November 25, 1940, now Patent No. 2,316,820, issued April20, 1943.

One of the principal object of my invention consists in the pro-visionof a clutch plate of sectional construction utilizing a number of smallsheet metal stampings to build upthe outer annular portion on which theannular facings are mounted, it being possible to produce thesestampings with much less waste than is involved in the stain-ping oflarge disks, and it being also possible to produce these stampings fromsalvaged scrap material, so that the present structure is made availableat a much lower cost than would otherwise be possible.

An important object of the invention consists in the provision of aclutch plate embodying an improved mush construction between thefriction facings, a salient feature of which lies in the provision offlat leaf-springs which can be produced to the desired uniformity atmuch lower cost than specially shaped leaf-springs, and the use of whichas compared with the conveitional struck-out ears commonly provided asintegral portions of clutch plate means an appreciable saving in cost byreason of the fact that it makes possible the use of ordinary sheetmetal stampings for the plate proper instead of spring steel. With thepresent construction there is no difficulty in obtaining clutch platesin quantity production of uniform thickness in the facing portionandwith the facings in substantial parallelism throughout thecircumference, whereas with the other earlier constructions mentioned,such uniformity in thickness and parallelism of facing was not obtained,and as a result such plates when installed would not give as good performance nor would they last as long as could otherwise be expected, I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a rear view of a clutch plate made in accordance with myinvention showing approximately half of the hub housing plate brokenaway so as to better illustrate the hub/construction and also showingapproximately half of the friction facing removed to better illustratethe rest of the plate construction;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the arcuate line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing another clutch plate of thesame construction so far as the hub portion is concerned but ofdifferent construction in the outer portion, approximately half of thefriction facing being broken away to better illustrate that portion, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional details on the correspondingly numberedarcuate lines of Fig. 4.

Similar reference numerals areapplied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2', the clutch plate shown comprisesrelative rotatable inner and outer portions, the inner portion beingformed by a center hub I0 splined for driving connection with thedriving shaft of an automotive transmission and provided with an annularflange I I onto opposite sides of which two circular sheet metal platesI2 are riveted, as indicated at I3. These plates have a plurality ofequally circumferentially spaced openings I4 provided therein, four inthe present instance, one for each of a plurality of spring cushioningmeans I5, the openings in the two plates being in register with oneanother. Assembled in each opening I 4 with thespring I5, inacc'ordancewith the disclosure in the parentapplication, is a piston I5and cylinder I'I extending into the sprin from opposite ends andprovided withenlarged circular head ends I8 larger in diameter than thespring so as to space the ends of the spring from adjacent portions ofthe plate and avoid wear on the end coils. Each piston I6 has an annularshoulder I8a thereon at its outer end next to the head I8 ofapproximately the same outside diameter as the cylinder I! so that bothends of the spring I5 are centered alike with relation 'to the headsI8.- As

. more fully described in the parent application, the

cylinder I! has a bleeder hole I9 provided in the wall thereof forintake and exhaust of the heavy oil or grease with which the spacearound the hub I0 is filled. A ring 20, the inner and outer Iperipheries2| and 22 of which are in concentric relation with the periphery 23 ofthe flange I I, has notches '24 cut therein in register with theopenings I4 andfis disposed between the plates I2, as clearly appears inFig. 2, for engagement of the end of notched portions 24 with the springcushioning means, the drive being taken at one end of the notchedportions 24 and by the respec tively opposite ends of the openings I 4in a manner well understood in this art. The radially outer side 24a. ofeach of the notches 24 in the ring 20, are struck on arcs'con'centricwith the inner and outer peripheries 2| and 22, as clearly appears inFig. l and the head ends H! of the pistons l6 and cylinders H aretapered, as indicated, to conform to these arcs 24a. The ring 28 isriveted at circumferentially spaced points, as indicated at l. 25,between the peripheral flanges'26 of two sheet metal housing plates 21.The latter have central circular openings defined by circular flanges 2Bwhich have close fitting bearing engagement on the opposite ends of thehub H] in spaced relation to the annular shoulders 29. The circularplates |2 fastened on the opposite sides of the flange U have circularcentral openings defined by outwardly bent flanges 38 fitting over theperipheries of the shoulder 29 and projecting from these shoulderstoward the plates 21 to retain compressible resilient gaskets 3| whichserve to seal the annular oil or grease chamber 32 in the hub housingagainst leakage of the heavy lubricating oil or grease with which I thechamb'er 32 is filled, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2. The flanges 26project radially beyond outer periphery 22 of the ring 28 and haveinwardly bent peripheral edge portions 34 between which another gasket35 of compressible resilient material is retained in compressedcondition to seal the outer periphery of the chamber 32 against leakage'of the oil or grease 33. These proper, formed by the two sets of sheetmetal stampings 31 and 38 are riveted with the housingfplat'es 21 to thering 2|] by the rivets 25. The stampings 31 carry theannular facing ring38 on rivets 46, and the stampings 38 carry the companion facing ring 4|on rivets 42.

In operation, when relative movement takes place between the inner andouter portions of the clutch plate, the springs 15 are compressed tocushion the drive. At the same time, the heavy oil or grease 33 withwhich the cylinders H are filled is dischargedto some extent through thebleeder holes l9 so that these pumping devices add materially. to thecushioning effect, accordingly relieving the springs I5 of some of theload.

The heavy oil or grease 33 is indicated only to the extent shown in Fig.2, to avoid confusion. The recoil action of the springs I5. is alsochecked by the pistons and cylinder |6|1 because their return to normalextended relationship is retarded as a result of the restriction of thebleeder holes l8 through which the heavy oil or grease 33 must flow. Inthat way, the secondary vibrationsare absorbed and a smooth. drive isobtained. I I

The sheet metal stampings 31 and 38 are of the segmental form clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1, five of each of these stampings being used tocomplete the outer-portion of the plate on which the facings 33 andarecarried, although, of course, it is obvious that the number of sectionsemployed may be reduced or increased. Each stamping 31 has a generallyU-shaped opening 43 punched therein defining a middle radial finger 44and opposed radial fingers'45and46 interconnected by an arcuate outerperipheral web 41. The finger 44 extends outwardly from an inner arcuateperipheral web 48 interconnecting the inner ends of the fingers 45 and46 and there are two circumferentially spaced holes 49 in the web 48registering with similar holesin the inner arcuate peripheral webportion 5|) of the companion stamping 38 through which openings therivets 25 extend to fasten the stampings to the'ring 20 'alongwith thehousing plates 21, washers 5| being preferably interposed between thestampings 3? and 38, one at each rivet, so as to space the stampings 31and 38 for a purpose which will "soon appear? Each stamping 38 has anopening of the U-shaped opening 43, while the web 55 of the stamping 38is disposed radially between the outer end of the finger-'44 and the web41 of the stamping 31. Now, bearing in mind the fact that the washers5|, which, by the way, are all of the same'thickness, serve to space thestampings 31 and '38 in paralle1 planes, it will be clear that there isroom between the stampings for fiat leafsprings 56 of approximately thesame thickness as the washers 5|, or less, so long as the leaf-springsare disposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in a parallel intermediateplane. springs 56 is generally h-shaped so as to provide twosubstantiallyv parallel fingers 51 and 58 on one side and a singlefinger 59 on the other side oftlie transverse intermediate-attachingportion 63. The springs 56 are mounted on the fingers 53 and 54 of thestampings 38 by means of their attaching portions 6|! and are disposedin reversed relation to one another in overlapping relation to themiddle finger 44 of the stamping 31,

whereas the two sets of fingers 51 and 58 extend away from one another,the one pair being in overlapping relation to the finger 45 and theother pair being in overlapping relation to the finger 46 of thestamping 31 and preferably also exteding beyond the finger 46 tooverlapping relation with a portion of the finger 45 of the nextstamping 31. The forking of the leaf-springs 56 o as to provide thefingers 51 and 58 is for the purpose of clearance with reference to theheads of the alternate rivets 40 which come between'the ends ofthefingers 51 and 58, as clearly appears in Fig. l, the other fi'ngers 59being disposed vwiththeir ends on opposite sides of the heads of theintermediate rivets 40, as also clearly appears in Fig. 1. The rivets 42for fastening the facing ring 4| to the stampings 38 are used also tofasten the leaf-springs 56 to the stampings 38,

the fingers 53 and 54 being provided with enlarged holes 6| to receivehollow struck-out or "embossed circular portions 62 on the attachingportions 60 of the leaf-springs 56, in the hollows of which the heads ofthe rivets 42 are received so as to lie flush with the outer faces ofthe leafspring 56, as clearly appears in Figs. 2 and 3. The purpose ofthis is to avoid any interference with thefacing ring 39"packin'gtightly against the adjacent face of the leaf-spring 56 in the en- 4gagement of the clutch. For a similar reason the Each of the leafheadsof the rivets 46 are made as thin or thinner than the leaf-springs 56 sothat they will not interfere with the packing of the facing ring 4|tightly against the other face of the leafsprings 56 (see Fig. 3). Eachleaf-spring 56 has a small struck-out hollow circular boss 63 on theattaching portion 60 in radially spaced relation to the boss 62 andarranged to engage in a hole 64 provided therefore in the stamping 38,each of the fingers 53 and 54 being provided with these holes and halfof the leaf-springs 56 having their bosses 62 and 63 struck in onedirection and the other half having their bosses 62 and 63 struck in theopposite direction to permit assembling the same in reversedrelationship to one another, those of one type alternating with those ofthe other type. The engagement of the bosses 63 in the hole 64 looks theleaf-springs 56 against turning about the rivets 42 as centers. Inoperation, it should be clear that as the pressure plate is moved towardthe flywheel in the engagement of the clutch the facings 39 and 4| arepressed together, flexing the fingers 51, 58 and 59, of all of theleaf-springs 56 so that; the spring pressure of the leaf-springs 56tending to keep 7 the facings 39 and 4| apart insures the desired smoothengagement of the clutch and avoids grabbing. The leaf-springs 56 beingnormally fiat will of course exert increasing spring pressure on thefacings 39 and 4! as they approach fully engaged relationship, the outerportion of the clutch plate being tightly packed between the pressureplate and flywheel when the clutch is fully engaged. In ful1 engagementof the clutch, the facing ring 39 is pressed tightly against theadjacent face of the leafsprings 56 and the facing ring 4| is pressedtightly against the other face of the leaf-springs 56. Such tightpacking is possible only because of the fact that the fingers 44, 45 andon the stampings 37 can be flexed into the same plane with thefinge-rs Sand 54 of the stampings 38. When the clutch is disengaged, theleaf-springs 56 return to the flat unfiexed form and accordingly returnthe fingers of the stampings 31 and 38 to their normal spaced parallelrelationship. The fact that all of the leaf-springs 56 are flat, asdistinguished from specially formed spring metal parts previouslyprovided for mush purposes, makes for a clutch plate of uniformincreased thickness in the disengaged condition and therefore. obviatesthe objection common in many other clutch plate construct'ions ofnon-uniform engagement and accordingly non-uniform and rapid wear of theclutch plate facings and a tendency for the clutch to grab. In otherwords, flat leaf-springs like those shown at 56 can be produced to thedesired uniformity, whereas specially shaped partscannot be produced toa desired uniformity without difilculty, which means close rigorousinspection and a high percentage of rejections in quantity production ofclutch plates. The fact that the fingers 5! and 58 of every alternateleaf-spring 56 cooperates not only with the finger 46 of one stamping 3!but to a certain extent also with the finger 45 of the next stamping 31further insures accurate coplanar alignment of all of the stampings 3!in one plane and coplanar alignment of all of the stampings 38 in aparallel plane. The fact that the present mush construction requiresspring steel only in the leaf-springs 56 is of course an importantfactor from the economy standpoint. In passing, attention is called tothe fact that the fingers 44, 45 and 46 on the stampings 3'! are bentbetween dies on the lines 65 normal to their radii and next to the pointof attachment of the stampings to the ring and housing plates 21'slightly in the direction of the stamping 38., and the fingers '53 and54 of the stampings 38 are bent between dies in the opposite directiontoward the stamping 31 on corresponding lines 66 normal to their radiiand next to thevpoin-t of attachment .of the stamping 38 to the ring 20and housing plates 21 whereby When the stampings 31 and 38 are rivetedat with theleaf-springs -56 assembled in place therebetween, the fingersEl, 58 and 59 of the leafsprings are solidly engaged with the stampings31 but the stampings 31 are in accurate parallelism with the stampings38. In other words, the bending along the lines 65 and 66 is so slightthat the pressure of the fingers on the stamp-ings 31 and 38 on thefingers of the leaf-springs 56 is not sufiicient to flex the latter butis only enough to insure uniform thickness of plates throughout theircircumference, in quantity production.

' Referring now to Figs. 4 tolQthe clutch plate shown in Fig. 4 is thesame in construction inso far as the spring cushioning means and fluiddampening means is concerned but the outer portion of the plate is ofdifferent construction. Sheet metal stampings 61 and 68 take the placeof the stampings 31 and 36 of the previous construction and cooperatewith leaf-springs 69 in a closely similar manner, in this construction,the stampings 6! and generally H-shaped opens ings l6 punched thereindefining an arcuate peripheral web portion H connecting the outer endsof radial web portions 12 and 13 the inner end portions of which areintegral with an arcuate attaching web portion 14 concentric with theweb portion 7|. Arcuate fingers l5 and 16 are also do. fined in thepunching of the H-shaped opening 70 in radially shaped relation to theweb portion 14 and substantially concentric therewith. Each sheet metalstamping 68 cooperating with a cornpanion stamping 61 is made T-shapeclso as to provide an inner arcuate attaching portion Tl, a. radial legportion 18 projecting from the middle of the attaching portion I7 and across-portion providing'one arcuate finger 79 disposed radially betweenthe finger l5 and web H and another arcuate finger '86 disposed radiallybetween the finger 16 and web H. The leaf-springs 69 in thisconstruction serve a. similar purpose to the leaf-springs 56 of theother construction and are I also generally H-shaped, although each hasthree finger ill-83 on one side of the intermediate attaching portion 84and a single finger on the other side of said attaching portion. Therivets 25' in this construction correspond to the rivets 25 of the otherconstruction and serve to fasten the stampings 61 and 68 in parallelrelationship to one another to the peripheral portion of the housingplates 27 with the T-shaped portion of each of the stampings 68 normallyin spaced parallel relation to the perforated portion 16 of thecompanion stamping 61. The rivets 42' for fastening the leaf-springs 68to the stampings 66 correspond to the rivets 42 of the otherconstruction and are entered in the circular boss portions 62 providedin the attaching portions 84 of said leaf-springs, these boss portions 62 being entered inopenings 6| provided therefor in the stamp ings 63 sothat the rivets 42 used for fasten ng the leaf-springs 69 to thestampingsfiil and also fastening the friction facing 4| to the oppositeside of the stampings 68 do not have the heads on the inner ends thereofprojecting from the plane of the leaf-springs 69 and will not thereforeinterfere with 'tight'packing of the friction facing 39 against theleaf-spring 69 in the engagement of the clutch. The fingers 83 havesmall circular bosses 86 struck therefrom arranged to engage in holes 81provided therefor in the web portion II of the stampings 61 whereby tohold the leaf-springs 69 against turning about the rivets 42 as centersand thus keep the fingers 8|83 in proper relation to the web portions IIand the fingers 85 in proper relation to the fingers 15 and 16. Itshould be clear that half of the leaf-springs 69 on the plate shown havetheir bosses 62' struck in one direction while the other half have theirbosses 62' struck in the opposite direction so that these leaf-springsmay be assembled in the plate in reversed relation to one another, thesame being true with regard to the bosses 86 which on one half of theleaf springs are struck in one direction and on the other half in theopposite direction. While I have shown all of the stampings 61 on oneface of the plate and all of the stampings 68 on the other face, itshould be understood that I may if desired alternate the arrangement ofthe stampings, having the stampings 61 alternately on opposite faces sothat the stampings 68 occur alternately on the respectively oppositefaces,

the leaf-springs 69 in such a construction being still mounted on thestampings 68 and cooperating with the stampings 61 in the same manner asherein illustrated. The operation of this clutch plate is closelysimilar to that of the other construction. In the engagement ofthe'clutch, as the pressure plate approaches the flywheel and thefacings 39 and 4| are moved toward each other, the leaf-springs 69 havetheir fingers 8l83 and '85 flexed, the T-shaped portion of the stampings68 moving into the slotted portions 10 of the stampings G1 and intosubstantially coplanar relationship. In full engagement the facing 39'is packed tightly against the adhub portion 'of relatively'heavy'sheetmetalQa'nd a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series ofstructurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin,resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis ofsaid hub and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one anotheron the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, theplate sections of one series having openings provided therein and theplate sections of the other series having portions in register with saidopenings and formed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the twoseries of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portionscompacted into substantially coplanar relationship, friction facingmaterial annularly applied to the outer faces of said plate sections,and spring means in the space between the plate sections and engagingthe inner faces thereof to resist compacting of the plate sections. I 3.In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantiallyparallel axially spaced series of plate portions in concentric relationto one another, the plate portions of one jacent face of the attachingportions of the leafsprings 69, and the facing M is packed tightlyagainst the adjacent face of the fingers ill-83 and 85. Here again, asin the other construction, it is preferred to bend the main body portionof each of the stampings 61 and 68 relative to the attaching portions sothat the leaf-springs 59 are solidly engaged on opposite sides by theassociated stampings' and the resulting clutch plate has a uniformthickness throughout the circumference of the facing portion.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications andadaptations.

I claim:

1. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion ofrelatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising twoparallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readilydistortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arrangedrelative to the axis of said hub and mounted in slightly axially spacedrelation to one another on the hub to turn therewith and projectingradially therefrom, the plate sections of one series having openingsprovided therein and the plate sections of the other series havingportions in register with said openings andformed to fit freely in saidopenings, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to havethe registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship.

2. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting series having openingprovided therein, and the plate portions of the other series havingportions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freelytherein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to havethe registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship, and leaf springs interposed in the space between saidplate portions to resist the compacting thereof.

4. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relationto one another, the plate portions of one series having openingsprovided therein and the plate portions of the other series havingportions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freelytherein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to havethe registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship.

5. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel axially spaced series of plate portions inconcentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one serieshaving openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the otherseries having portions in register with said openings'and adapted to fitfreely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted tohave the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship, leaf springs interposed in the space between said plateportions to resist the compacting thereof, friction'facing material onthe outer faces of said plate portions, and means for fastening thematerial to the portions so as to secure the leaf springs in assembledposition between the plate portions.

6. In a friction clutch driven plate, the com bination of twosubstantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relationto one another, the plate portions of one series having openingsprovided therein and the plate portions of the other series havingportions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freelytherein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to havethe registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship, flat leaf springs disposed in approximate parallelism withthe plate portions of the two series and between said series andsupported on the plate portions of the one series so as to be flexedbetween the plate portions of the two series to resist compactingthereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outer faces ofsaid plate portions, means for securing one of said rings to the oneseries of plate portions, and means for securing the other of said ringsto the other series of plate portions, one of the two last mentionedmeans serving to secure the leaf springs to the one series of platesections.

7. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relationto one another, the plate portions of one series having openingsprovided therein and the plate portions of the other series havingportion in register with said openings and adapted to fit freelytherein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to havethe registering portions compflcted into substantially coplanarrelationship, fiat leaf springs disposedin approximate parallelism withthe plate portions of the two series and between said series andsupported on the plate portions of the one series so as to be flexedbetween the plate portions of the two series to resist compactingthereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outer faces ofsaid plate portions, rivets extending through one of said rings and theplate portion of one series to fasten the ring thereto, said rivetshaving the heads on the inner ends thereof lying between the leafsprings and of a' thickness no greater than the thickness of said leafsprings so as not to interfere with close compacting of the plateportions, and rivets extending through the leafsprings and the otherplate portions and other ring facing material to fasten the leaf springsand ring to said plate portions, said'rivets having the heads on theinner ends thereof countersunk so as not to protrude from-the plane ofthe leaf springs, whereby to permit close compacting of the plateportions. I

8. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relationto one another, the plate portions of one series having generallyU-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the otherseries having generally U-shaped portions in register with said openingsand adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plateportions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted intosubstantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs mounted on the.arms of the U-shaped portion of the last named plate portions intransverse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed inoverlapping relation to. the other plate portions on opposite sides ofthe openings to re-' sist, compacting of the plate portions.

9.. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relationto one. another, the plate portions of one series having generallyT-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the otherseries having generally T-shaped portions in register with said openingsand adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plateportions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted intosubstantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs mounted on thearms of the T-shaped portions of. the. last named plate portions intransverse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed inoverlapping relation to the other plate portions onopposite sides of theopenings to resist compacting of the. plate portions.

10. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination oftwosubstantially parallel series. of plate portions inconcentricrelation to one another, the plate portions of one series havinggenerall T-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions ofthe other series having generally T-s-haped portions in register withsaid openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two seriesof plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compactedinto substantially coplanar relationship, springs mounted on the arms ofthe T-shaped portions of' the last named plate portions in trans-.

verse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed in overlappingrelation to the other plate portions on opposite sides of the openingstoresist compacting of the plate portions, one end of one f each pair ofassociated leaf springs extending yond the adjacent end of the plateportion overlapped thereby and overlapping the adjacent end of the nextplate portion of the same series of plate portions.

11. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion ofrelatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising twoparallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readilydistortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arrangedrelative to the axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turntherewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of oneseries having openings provided thereinand the plate sections of theother series having portions in register with said openings and formedto fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sectionsare adapted to have the registering portions compacted intosubstantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs interposed betweensaid plate sections to resist the compacting thereof.

12. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting. hub portion ofrelatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising twoparallel series, of. structurally independent plate sections of readilydistortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arrangedrelative to the axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turntherewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections. of oneserieshaving openings provided therein and the plate sections of theother series havingportions in register with said openings and formed tofit freely in said openings, whereby the two series. of plate sectionsare adapted to have the registering portions compacted into,substantially coplanar relationship, and flat leaf springs disposed inapproximate parallelism with the plate sections of the two series andbetween said series and supported on the plate sections of the oneseries so as to be flexed between the plate sections of the two seriesto resist compacting thereof. i

13; In a. frictionv clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion ofrelatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising twoparallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readilydistortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arrangedrelative to the axis of said huban'd mounted on the hubto turn there'-with and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of onevseries having openings provided therein and the plate sections of theother series and leaf compacting thereof, "friction facing material-onthe outer faces of said section and means for fastening the material to,the sections so as to secure the leaf, springs in assembled positionbetween the plate sections. 1 a

14. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion ofrelatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising twoparallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readilydistortable, thin,'resilient sheet metal concentrically arrangedrelative tothe axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turn therewithand projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of one serieshaving openings provided therein and the plate sections of the otherseries having portions in register with said openings and formed to fitfreely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sections areadapted to have the-registering portions compacted into substantiallycoplanar relationship, flat leaf springs disposed in approximateparallelism with the plate sections of the two series-.and' bet weensaid series and supported on the plate sections of the one series so asto be flexed between the plate sections of the two series, to resist compacting thereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outerfaces of said plate sections, means for securing one of said rings tothe-one series of plate sections, and means for securing the other ofsaid rings to the other series, of

plate sections, one of the two last mentioned means serving to securethe leaf springs to the one series of plate sections.

15. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of a hub member,two substantiallyparallel series of plate sections inconcentric relationto one another circumferentially with respect to the hub member,thinspacers between the radially inner portions of the platesectionsnormally maintaining said plate sections in slightly axially spacedrelation to one another, means for securing the radially inner portionsof said plate sections and said spacers tothe'hub mem her, the platesections of one serieshaving openings provided therein and the platesections ,of the other series having portions'inregister'with saidopenings and adaptedetolfit -freely therein, whereby the two series,of'plate sections are adapted to have the registering portionscornpacted into substantially coplanar-relationship, and thin flat andnormally straight leaf springs interposed in the space between the platesections in approximate parallelism therewith and arranged to be flexedwhen the registering portions of the plate sections are compacted intosubstantially coplanar relationship, whereby tore sist the compactingthereof,

16. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of a hub member,two substantially parallel series of plate sections in, concentricrelation to one another circumferentially with respect to the hubmember, said plate sections being mounted onthe hub member so that theradially outer portions thereof are in slightly axially'spaced relationto one another, the plate sections of one series having openingsprovided therein and the plate sections of the other series havingportions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freelytherein, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to havethe registering portions compacted into substantially coplanarrelationship, and .,thin, flatnand normally straight leaf springsinterposedv in the space between the plate sections in approximateparallelism therewith and arranged to be;;flexed when, theregistering'portions .of, the plate-sec.- tions are compacted intosubstantially coplanar relationship, whereby to resist the compactingthereof.

1'7. In a friction clutch driven plate, thecombination of two parallelseries of plate sections concentrically arranged relative to the axis ofrotation and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one another,the plate sections of one series having portions in circumferentiallyspaced relation adapted to receive in the spaces there,- betweenportions of the plate sectionsofthe other series permitting saidportions to rest in coplanar relation, whereby the two series of platesections are adapted to be compacted toward coplanar relationship.

18, In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two parallelaxially spaced series of 7 said plate sections in overlapping relationto the circumferentially spaced portionstoresist ,the compacting of saidplate sections. f

19. In a friction clutch driven plate ythe combination of two parallelaxially spaced series of plate sections concentrically arrangedrelativeto the axis of rotation, the plate sectionsof one series havingportions in circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive in thespaces therebetweenportions of the plate sections of the other seriespermitting said portions to rest in coplanar relation, whereby the twoseries of plate sections are adapted to be compacted towardcoplanarrelationship, and flat leaf springs that are normally straight anddisposed in approximate parallelism with the plate sections of the twoseries and between said series and supported on the plate sections inoverlapping relation ,to the circumferentially spaced portions so as tobe flexed to bowed form between the plate sections of the two series inthe compacting operation to resist compacting thereof.

20. In a friction clutch driven plate, the), on bination of two parallelseriesjof' plate sections concentrically'arranged relative to the axisof;:ro'- tation and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to oneanother, the plate sections'of one series having portions incircurnferentiallyfspaced relation adapted to receive the spacesjtbetween portions of the plate sectionsio other series permitting said'portionsto' re coplanar relation, wherebythe tw series of .platesections areadapted to be compactd toward 0'-' planar relationship,friction facing mate'rialt' 1'- nularlyapplied to the outer faces ofsaid plate sections, and spring means in the spa'ce 'between the platesections and engaging the 'innr'faces thereof toresist compacting of theplate '0- tions. 7 1 "1 w- QEN?"

